Tubular knob catch assembly

• US 20050246866A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Dalsing, Troy A., Kelso, Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/412
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/00 Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used covers or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 3/003 Fastening knobs or handles to hollow cylindrical spindles, e.g. of tubular locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A handle catch retainer is preferably for a door handle assembly including a support member coupled with the door and a handle disposed about the support member, the catch being configured to couple the handle and support member. The retainer includes a tubular base disposeable within the support member and an elongated holder connected with the base. The holder is configured to support the catch and is moveable between first and second positions with respect to the base, such that the catch is engageable with the handle when the holder is at the first position and the catch is nonengageable with the handle when the holder is at the second position. Further, the retainer is configured so that the holder is generally biased toward the first position. Preferably, the holder is integrally connected with the base such that the holder is biased to the first position by material forces.

Claims

1. A handle catch retainer for a door handle assembly, the handle assembly including an inner support member coupled with the door and a handle disposed at least partially about the support member, the catch being configured to couple the handle with the support member, the retainer comprising:

a base disposeable within the support member; and

a holder connected with the base, configured to support the catch, and moveable between first and second positions with respect to the base such that the catch is engageable with the handle when the holder is at the first position and the catch is nonengageable with the handle when the holder is at the second position, the retainer being configured so that the holder is generally biased toward the first position.

2. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the base includes a generally tubular body and the holder includes a elongated body having a first end connected with the tubular body and a second end configured to support the catch.

3. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 2 wherein the base tubular body has a central axis, an enclosed sidewall extending circumferentially about the axis and an opening extending through the sidewall, the holder body being disposeable within the sidewall opening so as to extend generally parallel with respect to the axis.

4. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 2 wherein the first end of the elongated body is integrally formed with the tubular body such that the retainer is generally of one-piece construction.

5. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 4 wherein the elongated body is bendable with respect to the tubular body so as to displace the holder between the first and second positions, the holder being biased toward the first position by material stress.

6. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 4 wherein the retainer is formed of one of a cast metallic material and a molded polymeric material.

7. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the handle assembly support member includes an opening, the support member opening being sized to receive at least a portion of the catch, the retainer holder has an attachment section configured to mount the catch to the retainer, and the retainer is formed such that when the base is disposed within the support member, the holder attachment section is disposed generally adjacent to the support member opening such that the catch is extendable through the support member opening to engage with the handle.

8. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member is formed as a generally circular tube and the retainer includes a generally tubular body providing the base and the holder, the retainer tubular body being disposeable within the support member tube.

9. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 8 wherein the support member tube has an open end and a central axis, and the retainer tubular body is insertable through the open end and slidable along the central axis to install the retainer within the support member.

10. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member includes an opening and the catch is disposeable within the support member opening such that a portion of the catch is engageable with the handle when the handle is disposed on the support member.

11. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the door handle assembly further includes a latch engageable with a door frame and a retractor configured to displace the latch, the support member being rotatably coupled with the door and operatively connected with the retractor such that rotation of the support member retracts the latch.

12. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member is one of immovably connected with the door, rotatably connected with the door, and linearly displaceably connected with the door.

13. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a generally tubular body providing the base and the holder such that the base and holder are integrally formed.

14. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the handle is one of a knob and a lever.

15. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the holder is displaceable from the second position to the first position to displace the catch into engagement with the handle and is alternatively displaceable from the first position to the second position to displace the catch out of engagement with the handle.

16. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the catch is mountable on the holder when the base is disposed externally of the support member such that when the base is installed within the support member, the catch is positioned for engagement with the handle.

17. A handle catch retainer for a door handle assembly, the handle assembly including a support member coupled with a door and a handle disposed at least partially about the support member, the catch being configured to couple the handle with the support member, the retainer comprising

a generally tubular body disposeable within the support member and having a portion providing a holder configured to support the catch, the holder being movable between a first position at which the catch is engageable with the handle and a second position at which the catch is nonengageable with the handle, the retainer being configured such that the holder is generally biased toward the first position.

18. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 17 wherein the tubular body has a generally enclosed sidewall with an opening and the catch holder is provided by an elongated section of the sidewall disposeable within the opening, the elongated section having a first end connected with a remainder of the sidewall and a second end configured to support the catch.

19. The handle catch retainer as recited in claim 17 wherein the handle assembly support member includes an opening, the support member opening being sized to receive at least a portion of the catch, the retainer holder has an attachment section configured to mount the catch to the retainer, and the retainer is formed such that when the tubular body is disposed within the support member, the holder attachment section is disposed generally adjacent to the support member opening such that the catch is extendable through the support member opening to engage with the handle.

20. A handle assembly for a door, the handle assembly comprising:

a support member coupled with the door;

a handle disposed at least partially about the support member;

a catch configured to couple the knob with the support member; and

a catch retainer including a base disposeable within the support member and a holder connected with the base and configured to support the catch, the holder being movable between a first position at which the catch is engageable with the knob and a second position at which the catch is nonengageable with the knob, the retainer being configured such that the holder biases the catch toward the first position.

21. A handle catch retainer for handle assembly, the handle assembly including an inner support member and a handle disposed at least partially about the inner body, the catch being configured to couple the handle with the support member, the retainer comprising:

a base disposeable within the inner body; and

a holder integrally formed with the base, configured to support the catch, and being movable between a first position at which the catch is engageable with the handle and a second position at which the catch is nonengageable with the handle, the retainer being configured such that the holder is generally biased toward the first position.